CONYERS - The Conyers City Council seems that it will remain intact after this year's city elections.

The five-member council has three members, Vince Evans, Dr. John Fountain and Gerald Hinesley, Sr., who are up for re-election this November. All three have qualified to run for the nonpartisan seats without anyone opposing them.

Qualifying for the city council election lasted from Monday, Aug. 31, to Friday, Sept. 4.

In other 2015 election news, on Friday Gov. Nathan Deal issued a call for a special election to fill the seat for State Senate District 43. Former District 43 State Senator Ronald Ramsey, who was serving his fifth term, was appointed earlier this year as an associate judge in DeKalb County's new traffic court.

The nonpartisan special election will be held Nov. 3 to fill the second year of the two-year term, which finishes at the end of 2016. If a runoff is needed, would be held Dec. 1.

The candidate qualifying period will run Sept. 14-16, starting 9 a.m. Sept. 14 and ending at noon Sept. 16.

Candidates can qualify at 802 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30334 at the Elections Divisions of the Secretary of State. 

The qualifying fee is $400.

District 43 covers most of Rockdale, about a third of Newton County, and parts of DeKalb County.

Voters who are not registered must register by the end of the business day Monday, Oct. 5, in order to participate in the Nov. 3 election.

Voter registration forms can be obtained at any county registrar's office or from the Secretary of State's website: sos.ga.gov/elections. Citizens with a valid Georgia driver's license can register to vote online at registertovote.sos.ga.gov or by using the "GA Votes" app on a mobile device.

City Council Candidates

Fountain says he hadn't heard "one way or the other" if anyone was going to oppose any of the seats, but he's happy no one did because the council can continue to focus on the future.

"I'm delighted to have a chance to serve another term," he said.

The council has built up a comradery over the years and that's what helps fuel him to continue to make the city a better place, he told The News.

"I think they've (Evans and Hinesly) done a good job and we all work together very well," said Fountain. "You look at other city councils and you don't always have that."

Fountain has served for the least amount of time among the three candidates having joined the council in 2012. He represents District 4 and wants to maintain a safe community, revitalize the downtown area and make sure the city is being fiscal responsible.

He received his medical degree from Emory University of Medicine and has practiced dermatology in Conyers since 1983, when he became a certified dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology.

Fountain graduated from Rockdale County High School at the top of his 1971 class. He and he's wife, Carol, have two children and two grandchildren.

Evans agrees with Fountain and says that the board's closeness helps foster better ideas for the city.

"We have a lot of respect for each other and we listen to each other's ideas," said Evans. "Because of how well we work together, we're able to come up with good ideas."

When he first ran for council, Evans thought he was only going to do one term, but every four years, he "realized there's still more work" that's needs to be completed. He'll now be entering his fifth term.

"I want to be a part of the things that we have in the works for the city," he said.

Evans was elected to the council in 2000, the longest tenured member of the three candidates, and represents District 2. He's currently chairman of the City of Conyers Economic Development Committee and co-chair of the City of Conyers Finance Oversight committee.

He's goal for the city include downtown revitalization and community development.

He received a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia and is the former owner of Evans Pharmacy. He sold the company to Beasley Drug Company which is located at 933 Center Street, Conyers.

Evans and his wife, Cyndi, have two children, Brandon and Ansley. He's lived in Conyers since 1979.

Hinesley joined the council in 2002 and serves District 3. He's the chairman of the Conyers Transportation and Stormwater Committee and co-chair, along with Evans, of the Conyers Finance Oversight Committee.

His goals for the city are to make a vibrant downtown community, keeping taxes and ensuring community safety.

Hinesley received his bachelor's in accounting from the University of Georgia. He's the chief financial officer of Associated Paper. He's lived in Conyers since 1999, but has lived in the Rockdale County area since 1984. He and his wife, Pamela, have two children and one grandchild together.